Wichita eagle., 1887-07-16
HOW CITIES ARE MADE.


HOW CITIES ARE MADE.
There has been great deal said abou
how cities are built, and every now ant
then some paper gives the whole secret t.
the world on the authority of some rea
estate man from some enterprising city
Numerous articles have appeared in which
information is given as to what caused the
rspid growth of this city, and in every in
stance it is claimed on the authority of 6
wichita man" In every one of these ar
tic2es 1t is made to appear that an organ
izatiOn existed here; that it had flooded the
country with circulars. and in that way at
tracted large immigration here. Nothing
could be wider from the truth. The fact
Is very little attention is paid to circulars.
When our boom was at its height and the
EAGLE was calling halt on this outside
addition craze, other towns were flooding
this city with circulars calling attention to
their advantages, but no attention was paid
10 them. We do not believe they ever
brought single investor to such towns. 1t
was just 80 much money thrown away.
Wichita has been much more largely ad-
vertised by the EAGLE than all other
sources; and for such work no money was
ever raised in this city or anywhere else.
The EAGLE has just simply told the truth
about this valley and natural advantages of
Wichita's location. We admit that prin-
ter's ink is important in giving the desired
Information about young cities, but world
Of circulars will not build city in an un-
natural location. There is another thing
about advertising new towns that those In
terested would do well to remember, and
that is that one thousand copies of a
respectable newspaper printed in town,
snd sent out, will do the town more real
good than ten million circulars. We do
not mean regular pictorial boom advertis-
ing paper that is a give-away on its face,
but the regular paper setting forth in a
truthful and attractive way the advantages
of the town, and showing in its advertising
columns that it has a live, energetic set
of business men.
tAnother false notion Is that by voting
large amounts of bonds that railroads will
come and take an interest in the towns and
build up great centers of trade. Some
places In Western Kansas will find their
mistake in this matter after it is too late.
A town may hopelessly bond itself to get
three or four roads and it will find when
the roads have passed through the town
that each road Will make an effort to Sc.
cure its freight along its line at non-com-
peting points. 1t will not be to the inter
est OF the roads to accumulate large amounts
OF freights at the competing points. After
3 large number of competing roads are
secured the work of city that means to be
a commercial point is only just.
If the city and surrounding country are
hOpelessly incumhered by debt they will
not be able ia hold out against rival towns
be inevitable on account of their large in
debtedness. Railroads will not recognize a
city until by their own pluck and energy
thep have built grea, commercial center.
They will then recognize it because
It Is their interest to do So All the rail
roads coming near to Kansas City will
send branches into that place because il is
their interest to do So but if all the com.
mercia] interests centered at Kansas City
were scattered along on the various roads
centering there, not one of those roads
would ever use its influence 10 center those
interests. They would rather use their in
fiuence TO prevent it, We have time and
again pointed out these things to the people
of this city And Wichita is fortunate in
observing these things. She is today not
only the leading city in Kansas, but is
practically out of debt, and with very
small per cent of taxation 1t is because of
these conditions that will insure the future
success of Wichita. She is in good fight
ing trim. Like trained athlete this city is
Invested of cumbersome weight and is
girlend for the race and fears no COM
petitors- The past growth of this city
and surrounding country has been sur
prise, but we believe her future has greater
surprise in store